As mentioned, I played a round recently at a 9 hole course named Orchard Beach, which is local to my home in Keswick. It reminds me a lot of my ex-home course in Dryden. A pretty casual course that’s a little on the simple side, yet possesses it’s unique challenges.

The course is put together pretty well with a real natural look as it rolls throughout some hills that sit above Lake Simcoe. It lacks a solid mixture of holes as it’s made up of average length par 4’s. Every hole has a unique risk associated to it ranging from OB, a pond or at minimum some fescue. It makes it difficult enough that you can’t grip it and rip it, but enough flexibility to take some short cuts without too much risk, which gives the course the “fun” factor. My only real complaint is the lacking of another true par 5.

I would have to say the 9th hole, a very short, down hill par 4, is a hidden gem when it comes to scenery. It faces the western shore of Lake Simcoe where you can witness some amazing sunsets. (I think I need to start bringing my camera out to these courses) I feel I could get used to playing this course on a regular basis.